A MOTHER of two who fleeced taxpayers of almost £60,000 in a benefit scam, has walked free.

Fox six years, Karin Timbrell conned authorities by claiming her husband had left her and she was a lone parent with two dependent children. An investigation, which included a three month surveillance operation, revealed she had continually lied about her status. In fact her husband was living with her.

Timbrell, 42, was however spared an immediate prison sentence after the judge heard her child suffered from Asperger's Syndrome.

Recorder Geoffrey Still was also critical of the Department of Works & Pensions over the delay to prosecute her.

"It was straightforward. You thought it had gone away and during that time you became pregnant."

The judge said he would have jailed Timbrell - who is expecting the child in August - for three years.

Instead Timbrell, of Ash Close, Bursledon, received a 12 month suspended sentence coupled with 75 hours community punishment order.

She pleaded guilty to eight charges of making a false claim for benefit and two of failing to notify the Department of Works and Pensions of a change of circumstances Prosecutor Jodie Mittell told Southampton Crown Court Timbrell began claiming income support, and housing and council tax benefit from August 1999 until they were stopped in November, 2005.

The investigation was launched after a private hire vehicle was regularly spotted parked on her drive early in the morning. Enquiries at Eastleigh Borough Council's licensing department revealed her husband held a licence as a taxi driver.

"Surveillance was conducted at the address for three months and a credit card check on Mr Timbrell also showed a number of organisations regarded Ash Close to be his home address," she said.

"By failing to declare her husband had been living with her throughout, she had been overpaid by the sum of £57,027.17.

"That comprised £24,788.61 income support, £28,372.03 on housing benefit and £3,866.53 council tax benefit."

Timbrell told investigators she had claimed benefits because her son suffered from Asperger's Syndrome and had to stay at home to look after him. She maintained she did not know where her husband lived but did see him daily because of his illness.

Ms Mittell said Timbrell agreed "he must be living somewhere" but didn't know where. She also denied they were having a relationship and that he stayed at the house overnight.

When confronted about the surveillance operation, she admitted she had been lying and he had never left her.

"She explained she had claimed as a single mother for financial reasons and accepted her claims had been dishonest from the outset."

In mitigation, Andy Houston said the money was not used for high living. In eight years they had only had two one-week holidays in Spain and the car was ten years old.

"They were not spending the money on luxuries and she has repaid £4,000.

"She is very oriented towards her family and is the lynchpin for her son."